There was a lot of hoopla about rookie Mason Foster starting at middle linebacker. One of the issues was with Foster getting the defensive calls, relaying it to the team and getting them in place.

The Bucs alleviated that concern however when they gave play-calling duties to Quincy Black.

“He did a great job (for) the first time out the box calling the calls,” coach Raheem Morris said. “The plays with the two messed up personnel, they handled it really nice.”

Morris said it just made more sense to let Black call the plays since he was going to be in the game for the entire series. Foster came out of the game when the Bucs went to their nickle defensive package,which replaced a linebacker with a defensive back, or when the team went to its Redskins’ package, which replaces has five defensive backs, three linemen and a rush linebacker in Dekoda Watson.

“Actually it worked out great for (Foster), not having to get the call from the sideline and going out there and playing faster,” Morris said. “It was less taking something off his plate, but using (Black) to call the signals because he’s out there on every single down.”

Morris said the Bucs will use that philosophy again Thursday against New England.